Buildings

• Any structure for whatsoever purpose and of whatsoever materials

constructed and every part thereof, whether used as human habitation

or not and includes foundation, plinth, walls, floors, roofs,

chimneys, plumbing and building services, fixed platforms,

Verandah, balcony, cornice or projection, part of a building or anything

affixed thereto or any wall enclosing or intended to enclose any land or

space and signs and outdoor display structures.

 Types of Buildings
• Based on Occupancy
• Residential building
• Educational building
• Institutional building
• Assembly building
• Business building
• Mercantile building
• Industrial building
• Storage building

• Based on Structure
• Load Bearing Structure
• Framed Structure
Fundamentals of Building Design
Fundamentals of Building Design
Fundamentals of Building Design
 Common Definitions
Carpet Area
The covered area of the usable rooms at any floor level (excluding the area of the wall)

Plinth Area
The built up covered area measured at the floor level of the basement or of any storey

Superstructure
The part of a building or construction entirely above its foundation or basement.
... any construction built above the main deck of a vessel as an upward
continuation of the sides. Compare deckhouse. the part of a bridge that rests on the
piers and abutments.

Substructure
The substructure is the part of the building that is underneath the ground, while
the superstructure is everything that is above ground. Substructure. The purpose
of the substructure of a building is to transfer the loads of the superstructure to
the soil that is underneath.
Basic Components of a Buildings
 Life Span of Civil Engineering Structure

Type of Structure Life Span (Years)

Residential and Commercial 35-50
Buildings
RCC Bridges 100
Steel Bridges 100-120
Sky Scrapers 100
Dams 80-100
Flexible Pavement 8-10
Rigid Pavement 30-35
 Building Orientation

• The chief aim of orientation of buildings is to provide physically

and psychologically comfortable living inside the building by
creating conditions which suitably and successfully ward off
undesirable effects of severe weather to the best possible extent

• Factors considered for the optimum orientation of the building.

(i) Natural light and temperature
(ii) Prevailing winds
(iii) Relative humidity
(iv) Surrounding view & features
• Climatic Conditions in India
• As per IS code No.SP-41 (S&T) – 1987, Four types of
climatic conditions are mainly found in India:
• Hot and dry
• Hot and humid
• Warm and humid
• Cold
• Hot and Dry Climatic Conditions
• Maximum day time summer temperature goes as high as 45
degree centigrade and relative humidity as low up to 20 %. .
• Major areas falling in this climatic zone are Delhi, U.P., Bihar,
Rajasthan, parts of Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
• The buildings should be oriented from solar point of view so
that, as a whole, it should receive the maximum solar radiation
in winter and the minimum in summer.
 Hot and Dry Climatic Conditions
Desirable features of building in this zone are:
1. Orientation: Longer walls of building should face North & South.
• Non-habitat rooms can be located on outer faces to act as thermal
barrier.
• Preferably the kitchen should be located on leeward side of the
building to avoid circulation of hot air and smell from the kitchen.
2. Windows and fenestration
• Large openings with heavy shutters should be provided on northern
and western faces as light coming from north is always diffused
and indirect.
• Also direction of breeze, which is from west at most of the places
enters from opening on west side.
• Windows area should be 15 to 20 percent of floor area. Suitable
radiation barriers in the form of canopies, Chhajjas, long verandahs
etc. should be provided on the West side of the building. Sufficient
number of ventilators close to the bottom of slab should be
provided
 Hot and Dry Climatic Conditions
Walls:
• Thick walls are preferred to act as insulating barrier. Walls with light and shining paints
on outer surface have good reflective quality and do not absorb heat.
• The surface of walls should be smooth and non-dust catching type.
• Cavity walls also can be provided as they provide very good thermal insulation.
• Hollow bricks available in the market can also be used for making hollow - insulated
walls.
Roofs:
• Should be built up with good insulating material having slope in windward direction.
False ceiling can be used to improve thermal performance of building.
• Terracing should be provided on the flat roof with mud phuska, lime concrete, foamed
concrete or burnt clay block paving over roof slab.
• Top roof surface should be made reflective by providing whitewashing or any reflective
paint.

Vegetation:
• Large shady trees whose roots do not strain foundation and basement should be planted
near external walls to provide shade.
Hot and humid climatic zone:

• In these regions the climate is hot and air contains moisture.

• Sun’s glare is more and undesirable. Relative humidity is above 40% and
temperature is above 32 degree centigrade.
• Mostly interior peninsular region fall under this category. Interiors
should be protected from hot Sun and dusty winds
• The thermal characteristics are almost identical to hot & dry zone except
that desert coolers are not suitable for hot & humid zone.
• The orientation and other features of the building would remain the same
as in hot and dry climatic zone.

Warm and humid climatic zone:

• This type of climate is normally found in the coastal areas.
• Mean maximum temperature during summer does not rise beyond 32
degree centigrade and relative humidity ranges between 70% and 90%.
• Because of less diurnal variation of temperatures along with high
humidity, the emphasis should be on prevailing winds.
Desirable features of buildings in this zone are:
Orientation:
• Should be preferably in North-South direction for habitable rooms i.e. longer walls
should face north & south so that shorter sides are exposed to direct sunlight.
Windows and fenestration:
• Proper cross ventilation of building is of extreme importance therefore large openings
should be positioned on windward and leeward direction. Windows area should be 15 to
20 % of floor area.
• The sill height of windows should be at low level between 0.5 to 0.7 m. Fixed windows
should be avoided.
• Ventilators should be provided as near to ceiling as possible.
Walls:
• Low thermal capacity material be used in construction and walls can be thinner as
temperatures are not very high.
• Compound wall on the windward side should be low. Bare fencing or light screen walls
are preferable.
• RCC jalies are more advantages as they allow passage of air through them and at the
same time provide privacy by obstructing the vision.
Roofs:
• Should have large overhangs to avoid rainwater hitting the wall.
• Roof should be finished with materials of low thermal
conductivity.
• Top roof surface should be made reflective by providing
whitewashing or any reflective paint / tiles.
• Proper slope is essential for effective removal of rainwater.
Vegetation: Shrubs of medium height or coconut trees grove or
casuarinas, which do not act as wind barriers are recommended
 General Design Requirement of Buildings

• A building should not only be functionally suitable but also

aesthetically pleasing, peaceful, suitable to the inhabitants, economical
to construct and easy to maintain.

• Easy maintenance
• Socio cultural variables
• Safety
• Natural ventilation
• Noise control
• Natural lighting
• Energy efficient buildings
 Seismic Safety of Buildings
Seismic consideration
• Following updated IS codes may be used for this purpose.
• SP22 –1982: Explanatory handbook on codes for earthquake
engineering.
• IS 1893-1984: Criteria for earthquake resistant design of structure.
• IS1893 – Part I –2002: Criteria for earthquake resistant design of
structure part 1 – General Provisions and buildings.
• IS4326-1993: Code of structures for earthquake resistant design
and construction of buildings
• IS13828 –1993: Improving Earthquake resistance of low strength
masonry buildings - Guidelines
• 13920-1993: ductile detailing of reinforced concrete structure
subject to seismic forces - code of practices
 Engineering Plans of Buildings
• The detailed construction plan which includes Sections and Elevations of building
should not be approved unless following detailed plans are also available:

• Site plan and General layout plan showing various service connections like
sewerage, drainage, water & power supply, roads etc to town services

• Roof plan showing terracing with slopes, water proofing and water outlets.

• Detailed larger size plans of toilets and kitchens indicating the location and type of
fittings and treatment on floor and walls.

• Plan showing layout of furniture and furnishing and their type.

• Sanitary fittings, drainage and sewage plan, plumbing details.

• Horticulture landscaping plan (optional).

• Electrical wiring plans.

 Green Buildings
• “Green” Buildings are high performance structures that also meet certain
standards for reducing natural resource consumption

• “Green” or “Sustainable” buildings are characterized by:

• efficient management of energy and water resources
• management of material resources and waste
• restoration and protection of environmental quality
• enhancement and protection of health and indoor environmental
quality
• reinforcement of natural systems
• analysis of the life cycle costs and benefits of materials and methods
• integration of the design decision-making process
Thank You